Military Appreciation, New Friends, and holding it together!

When I woke up this morning I felt sore, just a little, nothing crazy...my biggest injury yesterday didn't come from the mud run but by walking into a table at NY & Co - shopping... yeah I know...lol Anyway, my first thoughts as I woke up from a deep slumber was, oh why is that alarm going off & I miss my dad. It was 3 years ago today he passed. He was recovering from his last hospital stay, at home on oxygen. We all thought things were getting better, I mean he finally said he was ready to make a change, change his diet, be more active. Sadly he never got to show us all that he meant that. I won't go into the details of that evening, but there is always a small part of me that felt guilty that I couldn't save him. I have been trained in CPR since I joined the service when I was 17. Why didn't it work? I guess it was already too late.

This morning, as I was nursing Gabriella, I was thinking how awesome it would have been if he could have met her. He was kind of a tough guy, but had a soft spot for long eyelashes and a sweet smile. She is so beautiful, there is no doubt in the world - he would have loved her. I tried not to get too emotional, after all it was only 6:15am. So we got ourselves together and headed out to the Military Appreciation 5k. Stephen sat in the back with Gabriella (I swear the rear reclining seats have me driving Ms Daisy more often than not!) and I heard him tell her how today we were going to think about Grandpa and how she didn't get to meet him...I almost lost it. 

We arrived at the packet pick up just in time. I met up with Heatherand Kelly before the race. It was really cool because I've talked to Kelly in our running moms group on Facebook but you never really think you'll meet people that are in these groups. She was here on vacation and I thought it was awesome that she decided to do this 5k!

We all run different paces, Heather runs like she has a rocket up her butt (and I mean that in the nicest possible way and only a tad bit of jealousy...lol), I'm in the middle, averaging about a 9:30mm, and Kelly is about a 12mm. When it came to start the race we gave high 5's all around and headed to our estimated places amongst the modest crowd. It was 8am and probably already 80 degrees out, and I just knew this race was going to be a tough one. I wasn't really expecting to come out with a PR, so really it was just about getting out there and showing my appreciation for our veterans as well as active military. 

I started off pretty good, a solid and surprisingly easy feeling 9mm pace for the first mile. I thought maybe if I could keep it up, I would pull a PR after all! As the second mile approached I could feel a slowing of my pace and an increased need to pee, seriously, this whole 6 month old has impacted me in ways I never thought, I found myself wondering why there wasn't a port-a-potty at every mile marker...lol I also felt the sun beating on my face, and I kept thinking I could use a little help moving... I wish I had a really inspiring story about how I felt myself being lifted and carried across the finish line, as if my dad was a wind at my back pushing me to some astounding PR... but nope, that didn't happen... knowing my dad he was up there looking down, shaking his head wondering why in the world I would be running when no one was chasing me!

Heather had what she called one of her worst 5k's at 25 minutes and change, a result I would probably have taken the whole crew to Tommy Bahamas for a round if I had accomplished... and she placed 1st for her age group!

I finished in 29:33 (I think, official results haven't been posted yet) - which is about par with my last 5k finish of 29:22 from May 7th.  I placed 2nd for my age group. I will always say, I love small local races, it's good for the ego... I am about to get serious with my cross training, so watch out! I feel like my next race, an 8k on July 2nd, will have me setting a new PR.

The best part of the day for me was being able to snap this shot of Kelly. She just heard that she placed 3rd for her age group... I literally just turned around and snapped it, I didn't even look really... Running a 5k to support veterans, $20 (well for me it was free *veteran*), meeting up with friends to run on a hot morning - $3 in gas & a bottle of water, capturing your new friend with such a genuine expression of surprise, elation & accomplishment - PRICELESS!

So at the end of this hot, humid, emotional morning, I found myself smiling... how could I not? It's not about PR's or awards (although these things are nice)... it's about sharing experiences with people. At the end of the day - it's about making the most of every day, remembering moments of the past and continuing to live in the present... I know for me, these moments won't be forgotten...

In remembrance of Clifford T. Harris, August 30, 1946 - May 29, 2008... 

I miss you Daddy!

Dirty Myrtle Mud Run

Well another mud run in the books... I will say, I kinda liked the Myrtle Beach Mud Run better than the Dirty Myrtle Mud Run... Both were fun, but at the end of the day a girls got a preference! I was so happy that my son followed through and ran it with me (ok, he started after me, caught up to me to say 'hey' and then finished about 7 minutes before me!) ...it was good.

Stephen & Gabriella left a little early, she was getting hot and has been fighting with this double ear infection, but they were cheering in spirit! The site was quite literally a field, a clearing for future housing and water trucked in. I was a little disappointed it was such a short course. The site said almost 3 miles but I will say - no where near 3 miles. My finishing time was 22:26, Joshua was 15:38... my current 5k pace is about 9:30 (on a good day) so maybe the course was 2.5 miles? Anyone who actually runs knows almost 3 miles means like 2.8 or 2.9 - for me a half mile is a lot - not close.

The obstacles, they were alright, I would have liked to see a better layout - I am not an engineer but with a blank slate, it could have been more creative. There was a tire carry - but not enough tires so people were standing around waiting for the others to loop around...

I am not slamming the event, it was a fun morning, I got covered in mud & felt like I burned some calories, so overall it was physical activity - which is great no matter how you get it! There were a lot of people out there, I even had a random guy ask me to take a picture with my phone and send it to him... So Dave Galfetti - if you didn't get the picture, let me know!

This shot of Joshua riding in the back of my father-in-laws truck is probably one of my favorites. He said, 'Mom make sure you get my number!' and then went on to tell me how much fun he had, that he wants to do another mud run and the best part of it & highlight of the entire experience, wait for it...

Joshua said, 'Thanks for signing me up mom...' - YES you heard it here... my 15 year old son thanked me... unsolicited, words of gratitude without an angle... anyone who has a teen knows how sometimes they use words to pad their real objective (something which usually requires your bank card & the mall!) - I enjoyed that 5 minute drive home in the back of the truck. Joshua and I made a connection, we actually had a real conversation - it was nice...

Saving these for next time!

Another bib & more bling

Memorial Day Lineup!

So the weekend is fast approaching (never fast enough if you ask me) and I have a few things going on. I have 2 races, and 2 anniversaries (one joyful and one, is a remembrance). Right now, I am sitting in my living room watching the last episode of Oprah, which is crazy because I never get to watch it and now it's the last one! Of course the only reason I am not sitting in the closet I call an office, is because my baby girl has a double ear infection, and I wanted to be home with her this afternoon... She finally went down for a nap at 345pm, so I am typing fast incase this is one of her famous 30 minute power naps!

Anyway, my races, I am excited! Saturday is the Dirty Myrtle Mud Run which I am doing with my son, Joshua. I am pretty stoked to see him jump in mud pits and enjoy an event! I have been waiting for this event for a while - time to get down & dirty once again!

Sunday, well it starts off with the Military Appreciation Days 5k at 8am, I know it sounds crazy, mud run & then a 5k the next day BUT my registration was FREE - why? I served in the US Army :) So I would encourage anyone in the Grand Strand Area who are currently serving or have previously served this country to  come out and participate for FREE! The end of the day will be a BBQ at  a friends house, which is great because I won't have to cook!

Sunday also marks the 3rd Anniversary of my fathers passing... I am glad to have some very positive and uplifting activities planned for this day. I've been thinking about it a lot lately, probably because my neighbor/friend just lost her mother to cancer this past week. I think about all the things he missed, and all the things I missed seeing him enjoy. For one, walking me down the aisle, another, the birth of my daughter. Somedays are hard, I know it seems cliche to say 'time heals all wounds' or 'it gets easier with time'... I guess I think it just hurts less, not that it stops hurting (maybe it does and I just haven't gotten there yet). Nevertheless, Sunday will be full of mixed emotions, but mostly positive because all I can do is think about all the moments he was here for and not focus on what has been missed. I can't bring him back, so I have to believe he hasn't really missed anything, he's been with me all along.

I saved you a seat daddy...

So that brings us to Monday, I know this is going to probably sound crazy, seeing how the 29th was my fathers passing 3 years ago, my 2nd wedding anniversary is the 30th. It wasn't quite planned to piggy back like that. Honestly, we had picked the first weekend of May but chose to push it out so that family could be there. As I looked on the calendar in the month of May, it was the first weekend which wasn't going to work, then 3 weekends of bike weeks (which wasn't really how I imagined my wedding weekend) and then the last weekend... so I just picked it (for some reason I was set on a May wedding!)... It was weeks later I realized what date I had picked...

I had the most perfect wedding, it was beyond my expectations, it was the most beautiful day, all the people I love were there. My mom & son walked me down the aisle and I married my best friend. I was surrounded my family and friends, I felt like I was living a dream, and still feel like that! In the past two years we have faced some sad times, and a lot of joyous occasions and through it all, we have always been there for each other. Stephen, you are my best friend, my cheerleader and biggest fan... I am blessed to have found you and I couldn't imagine life without you. Together we make such a strong team and that is what inspired the creation of 'Team Epton' because everything we do, we do as a team.

I remember writing my vows and it still holds true:

Stephen, 
Today we begin another chapter of our lives together. 
You are my best friend, you are the one I share everything with, my hopes, my fears, my dreams, and my secrets.  I have never felt I had to be anyone but who I am.  You have seen me at my best and at my worst;  you have cheered for my successes and comforted me thru my losses.  Today like yesterday and all the days that we have been together, and the days which lye ahead, I am committed to you thru the happiness and joy, the challenges, and everything we will see in the future. 
Before God, our families and our friends, I pledge my trust, faith and love to you and our marriage.  
Today I chose you.